Best 8 inch Tablets in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 14, 2024
An 8-inch tablet will suit all those who seek a functional device with small dimensions. It will be especially convenient if you ...Read more
PROS

The speakers have an excellent bass output, with an above-average extension. Between these speakers, what you'll be hearing is rich soundscapes, immersive and multi-layered. The EMUI module that's installed atop Android 9.0 streamlines the interactions between you and the tablet. 

CONS

The operating system leaves you with less than 20 gigabytes of storage space. 

OUR VERDICT

The Huawei MediaPad M5 is the most complete gadget within this lineup. Its cameras are great, the thin bezels make the tablet look sleek and elegant, the hardware is second to none (compared to its peers), and even the audio setup is heads and shoulders above the competition.

detailed parameters
Display

8", IPS, WUXGA (1200 x 1920)

Performance

Processor: Kirin 710 (2.2 GHz Quad-core + 1.7 GHz Quad-core)

RAM: 3 GB

Memory: 32 GB

Operating System

Android 9.0 + EMUI

Interfaces

MicroSD slot, micro USB, 3.5mm jack

Wireless Connectivity

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.2

Camera (Rear/Front)

13 MP / 8 MP 

Battery Life

Up to 10 hours

Dimensions

204.2 x 122.2 x 8.2 mm

310 g

Warranty

1 year

PROS

The built-in microSD slot allows expanding the base memory unit up to 512 GB with relative ease. But what makes it special, though, is the compatibility with OTG cables, which makes it possible to connect USB flash drives to the tablet.

CONS

The viewing angles are not very wide. 

OUR VERDICT

If you are looking for a relatively small tablet, then the Galaxy Tab A will be right up your alley. A full-metal backplate makes it easy to hold and carry around on top of the fact that it is quite durable. A great option for home and office use.

detailed parameters
Display

8", TFT, WXGA (800 x 1280)

Performance

Processor: Snapdragon 429 (2 GHz Quad-core)

RAM: 2 GB

Memory: 32 GB

Operating System

Android 9.0

Interfaces

MicroSD slot, micro USB, 3.5mm jack

Wireless Connectivity

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.2

Camera (Rear/Front)

8 MP / 2 MP

Battery Life

Up to 14 hours

Dimensions

210 x 124.4 x 8 mm

347 g

Warranty

1 year

PROS

The tablet is shipped without any bloatware, so you receive almost 32 gigabytes of storage space (excluding what the operating system is occupying). The Smart Eye Protection mode will let you stare at the screen as much as you want/need without inducing eye fatigue. 

CONS

The battery life isn't great.

OUR VERDICT

The VANKYO MatrixPad S8 will interest anyone whose budget is strict but the ambitions are almost too grand. You will not find more impressive specs within this price bracket. The tablet will manage the most demanding apps (even though its multitasking capabilities are a little limited).

detailed parameters
Display

8", IPS, WXGA (800 x 1280)

Performance

Processor: Spreadtrum SC7731 (1.3 GHz Quad-core)

RAM: 2 GB

Memory: 32 GB

Operating System

Android 9.0

Interfaces

MicroSD slot, micro USB, 3.5mm jack

Wireless Connectivity

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.2

Camera (Rear/Front)

5 MP / 2 MP

Battery Life

Up to 8 hours

Dimensions

209 x 124 x 9 mm

~350 g

Warranty

1 year

PROS

The Kids Centre hub features the most intuitive UI so that kids can play games and watch cartoons without struggling with controls. The hub also features appropriate content that's centered around kids and multiple parental tools, including password protection, daily use limits, and more.

CONS

The tablet's shipped with an outdated Android version. 

OUR VERDICT

The Acer Iconia One is not the fastest tablet. But, including the pre-installed apps, this tablet will work wonders for parents, for the elderly, and for those users who are not chasing performance, only using their tablet for occasional browsing, YouTube, Netflix, etc.

detailed parameters
Display

8", IPS, WXGA (800 x 1280)

Performance

Processor: MediaTek MT8163 (1.3 GHz Quad-core)

RAM: 1 GB

Memory: 16 GB

Operating System

Android 5.1

Interfaces

MicroSD slot, micro USB, 3.5mm jack

Wireless Connectivity

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.0

Camera (Rear/Front)

5 MP / 2 MP

Battery Life

Up to 9 hours

Dimensions

210.7 x 126.3 x 9.5 mm

340 g

Warranty

1 year

PROS

The SIM card slot lets the tablet double as a smartphone. The Wi-Fi module's range is pretty extensive (around 30-40 metres depending on obstructions). Despite its relatively standard size, the tablet weighs ~310 grammes, a little less than most 8-inch models. 

CONS

The front-facing camera is second-rate.

OUR VERDICT

The Teclast P80X is the most capable tablet within its price bracket. The model's processing unit can run even the most CPU-consuming, RAM-demanding games. Meanwhile, the IPS screen will make these games look pretty solid, with vivid colours, great contrast, and at virtually any angle.

detailed parameters
Display

8", IPS, WXGA (800 x 1280)

Performance

Processor: Unisoc SC9863A (1.6 GHz Quad-core + 1.2 GHz Quad-core)

RAM: 2 GB

Memory: 32 GB

Operating System

Android 9.0

Interfaces

MicroSD slot, SIM card slot, micro USB, 3.5mm jack

Wireless Connectivity

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.1

Camera (Rear/Front)

2 MP / 0.3 MP

Battery Life

Up to 10 hours

Dimensions

208 x 124 x 9.3 mm

313 g

Warranty

1 year

Precise, Fine-Tuned Speakers

From a price perspective, the Huawei MediaPad M5 stacks up about average compared to most 8-inch tablets. Yet, the difference between this gadget and its peers is, at times, staggering. The screen's pretty great and the hardware is nothing to sneeze at, we'll get to these details. Before that though, what separates the product first and foremost is audio, which's surprising, no doubt about that.

Normally, tablets come adopting second-rate sound systems but "normally" does not apply here. Here, the device's presenting a quad-speaker system made in collaboration with Harman Kardon®. This system can blast precise, fine-tuned concert hall audio effects, produce more bass, and very little distortion. The bass output has an excellent impact (by tablet standards) and decent extension. Between all these speakers, the tablet produces rich soundscapes, delivering multi-layered, penetrating 3D surround sound.

Now, this is no drawing tablet, we will not be claiming otherwise. Having said that, the gadget can easily double as one at times. Its touchscreen is sensitive and responsive. Depending on the package, you'll receive the company's stylus boasting 2048-layer pressure sensitivity (or can purchase one separately), using which you'll be able to jot down notes, write memos, even doodle basic sketches.

Elegance from all Angles

Aesthetics dictate more than we're willing to admit these days. This gadget's fine with the status quo though. Its curved metal unibody displays elegance from all angles. The gentle curve and the 2.5D glass edge combined create the sleekest profile that you do not expect from electronics below 200 quid. Despite that, the tablet weighs less than 310 grammes, so most people can easily hold it with one hand.

Pivoting towards the cameras, this lightweight product refuses to drop the ball, delivering two brilliant implements measuring 13 and 8 megapixels each. In other words, photos taken via with tablet will look great even when put on a huge screen (we're talking 55-60 inches and above).

As for the software, the device comes integrating Android 9.0 + EMUI. The EMUI module is great, including multiple tools that aid beginners. The issue is that, between the OS and this module, the 32GB storage space becomes less than 20 GB, so you'll probably have to expand soon.

Finally, without boring you with minute hardware details, what we're working with here is Kirin 710 CPU (2.2 GHz quad-core + 1.7 GHz quad-core) and 3 GB RAM, so the tablet can easily handle multitasking and juggling multiple system-intensive apps.

In closing, despite the affordable price, the Huawei MediaPad M5 is an absolute beast, even though gentle and delicate at times.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07T9M2LGK

The Fast One

The Galaxy Tab A can be called a lite version of a Samsung tablet without any mind-blowing bells and whistles but with great performance and great build quality, which the company’s products are known for.

First things first, let’s take a look at what’s under the hood of this 8-inch tablet. The processor the gadget comes equipped with is one of the most popular quad-core mobile CPUs from Qualcomm - an SDM 429 that has a base clock rate of 2.0 GHz. We didn’t expect any miracles here, but the processor can surely deliver in terms of performance, especially if you usually run multiple applications in the background or in a split-screen mode.

Although the onboard memory is not something to write home about, 32 GB should be more than enough for installing the most essential applications alongside your favourite music tracks and a couple of movies on top. But it doesn’t end there, the internal storage can be expanded up to 512 GB without breaking a sweat using a microSD card at any given time.

Moving on, owing to the minimised bezel, you almost don’t notice the frame of the tablet, which makes browsing the internet, watching your favourite TV shows, movies, and playing games without any distractions.

NIMBLE YET POWERFUL

Even though the 8-inch screen of the tablet doesn’t put it alongside the largest gadgets available on the market today, it is still plenty big for watching movies, videos on the internet, and gaming comfortably without squinting at it. And thanks to the 800 x 1280 resolution of the IPS display, you won’t even have to.

Display out of the way, let’s talk about the autonomous capabilities of the Galaxy Tab A. The gadget is equipped with a 5100 mAh Lithium-ion battery, which should cover the needs of demanding users without breaking a sweat. But in case you need to take the tablet with you to the city or on the trip, we recommend grabbing a charging cable or a power bank as well.

As for some more subtle features, this tablet also supports true stereo sound, thanks to the built-in dual speakers, which make even mundane things from YouTube sound much better. Unlike most modern mobile devices, though, the Tab A still has a 3.5-mm audio jack, which is a nice feature, especially for users that are not really crazy about using wireless headsets at all times.

In the end, if you need an affordable multimedia device that can be used by any member of the family, then Samsung Galaxy Tab A is the right model to look for. Light, nimble, and excellently put together, it proves, once again, that a good tablet doesn’t always need to be overpriced.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B07W6QDF81

Almost too Cheap

The VANKYO MatrixPad S8 costs practically nothing. At this moment, the tablet comes at less than 80 quid, which's ridiculous considering everything that the gadget is offering. Yes, keeping the price this low, the product does not come without its weak points, you cannot avoid those without raising the price. But, can you really complain that the main camera caps at 5 megapixels and the front-facing one stops at 2? Not really, not without understanding that you're paying pennies here. Sure, the battery life is not great, maxing at 8 hours but, as it is always the case with tablets, you'll seldom receive the full 8 hours. Again though, relative to what you're coughing up here, the model's battery life is actually almost commendable.

Dropping the whole "but look at the price first" schtick, tablets start with the hardware inside them, not unlike most computers (technically speaking, they're still computers). Looking inside, you'll see the Spreadtrum SC7731 (1.3 GHz quad-core) processing unit and the 2 GB RAM setup. Needless to say, the CPU is not the greatest processor we've seen yet but, between its quad-core setup and the aforementioned 2 GB RAM module, the processing unit enables decent integration, quick app launches, smooth playback, and responsive, lag-free performance.

From the storage space perspective, the tablet is not lagging behind its more expensive competition, offering no less than 32 GB (excluding what the Android 9.0 eats up) and the obligatory micro SD slot that lets you expand its storage facilities even further. Plus, there's no pre-installed bloatware clogging its memory, nothing but the essentials.

Protecting Your Eyes

As far as aesthetics are concerned, the gadget looks alright, basically what you usually expect from budget 8-inch tablets. The screen-to-body ratio though, almost reaching 80%, is above-average. Housing the most impressive IPS screen, this device offers solid contrast between blacks and whites, great viewing angles (around 178 degrees both ways), and lifelike colours.

Weight-wise, the gadget's a little chunky, pushing ~350 grammes, which is somewhere between 5 and 35 grammes more than most 8-inch tablets, not necessarily noticeable but noteworthy nonetheless. What's also noteworthy though is the Eye Protection mode, filtering blue light emissions and reducing eye fatigue so that you can spend hours staring at this screen without tiring out.

Long story short, take into account the price and you should come to the conclusion that the VANKYO MatrixPad S8 has no business being this good.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £89.99
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B082DZBRM7

Mixed Impressions

The Acer Iconia One is not iconic quite yet but we can see the line getting there. As the people behind the product have put it, this product packs all the stuff you require to get into the tablet game, all whilst keeping the price modest. Still, the gadget has its flaws, including a few significant ones.

First things first, you're offered only 1 GB RAM, which's not great. With so little RAM, the tablet cannot handle running multiple apps simultaneously, even the least system-intensive ones. Opening more than two will produce noticeable lags, slowing the gadget down. The upside is the speedy MediaTek MT8163 (1.3 GHz quad-core) processing unit, packing enough computing muscle to make sure the device can handle even the most recent, hottest games.

Equipping the tablet with an above-average CPU makes sense but adding no more than 16 GB storage space to that mix makes a little less sense. Now, this is not the biggest issue since the manufacturers did not forget to include a micro SD slot, so you can add as much as 128 GB and store as many songs, podcasts, pictures, and videos as you want.

What's a little odd is that the tablet's shipped with an outdated Android 5.1 operating system, which is an easily fixable issue since you can always update the system without paying a dime but why the gadget is not shipped with an updated one is beyond us.

Kids Centre and EZ Utilities

What's inside this device leaves mixed feelings but the outside is a little less uncertain. No, from an outside perspective, this is an excellent device, with its all-white housing looking polished and elegant.

Still, we're not saying that there's nothing impressive (besides the CPU) inside this gadget. To name one, the Kids Centre hub is great. Without adding any bloatware, the hub offers the most simple interface that even the youngest kids can easily figure out and appropriate, kid-centric content that you can moderate using password-protected parental control tools that include daily use limits, content management, and more. Then, there's the integrated EZ Utilities app, lending you Android enhancement modules that can customise magnification, font size, and more with one single touch.

Last but not least, the cameras here are alright, with the main one capturing 5 megapixels and the front-facing one capturing 2.

Bottom line, the Acer Iconia One is an excellent choice for parents and people who do not use their tablets for work. The rest should probably look elsewhere.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £139.88
Stock In stock
ASIN B01EHOBQZM

Speedy Little One

The Teclast P80X is an affordable tablet, even more affordable than most models within the budget class. But because the name behind the product has no brand recognition, the tablet manages to keep the price low yet the specs pretty high.

Generally speaking, budget 8-inch tablets are not offering anything more impressive than one quad-core CPU capping at around 1.3 GHz. Here, we have an opposite approach, with the gadget flexing its speedy Unisoc SC9863A (1.6 GHz quad-core + 1.2 GHz quad-core) processing unit. When you also take into account the 2 GB RAM setup, there's very little this tablet won't let you do, from managing large databases and complex spreadsheets to small-time scientific modelling and different compression/decompression tasks. Even the greediest, heaviest, most gluttonous apps will not be able to slow down this gadget. You'll be running multiple system-intensive applications at the same time without experiencing any discomfort.

As always, rounding the CPU and RAM up is the model's storage capacity, not necessarily contributing to its performance but, without available storage space, there's no performance, so its importance cannot be underestimated too, even though the amount needs are subjective. From the get-go, the device offers 32 GB, which is nothing to scoff at since most budget tablets are usually stopping at 16. Plus, not unlike its peers, this tablet comes fitted with a micro SD slot that accepts SD cards up to 128 GB, so you can expand the storage space quite a lot.

Even the Battery

Even though most people will not care, an interesting addition here is a SIM card slot, something that laptops these days are seldom featuring. Sure, measuring 208 x 124 x 9.3 millimetres, this gadget makes one massive, inconvenient phone but if your main phone breaks and you need to survive a few days before you can purchase a new one, you'll be glad the slot is there. Even the battery life here is pretty great, reaching 10 hours when you're not doing much and somewhere around 6-7 when you're playing games, watching YouTube, etc.

What's not great are the cameras. Whilst people usually do not take pictures using a tablet, the fact that the rear camera and front-facing camera are measuring 2 and 0.3 megapixels respectively is a little upsetting. Even counting the second-rate cameras though, the Teclast P80X is hard to argue against, with its above-average specs coming at the least stingy price.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B07XDP11QP

What Is an 8-inch Tablet?

A tablet is a portable device that features some sort of operating system, a touchscreen and a rechargeable battery. It combines features of a smartphone and personal computer, yet it lacks some input and output abilities of the PC. Generally, tablets resemble a smartphone, but they have a larger size. The other difference is the hardware. Hence, even if your phone and tablet share the same OS, you may notice some differences in their functionality.

The most obvious advantage of the tablet is its high portability. Even though laptops have become thinner and lighter, they are still bulkier than a tablet which provides you with pretty much the same functionality as a laptop. It can easily fit in your bag or even a purse, especially if you own an 8-inch model. What is more, the touch screen is one of the most convenient interfaces that will be easy to use even for a newbie. In our review, you can find the 5 best 8-inch tablets for use on the go.

We also have a selection of the top 10-inch tablets and tablets for college students.

What Features to Compare

Display and Resolution

When buying a tablet, there are several things you need to pay attention to. The first one is the display. Needless to say that the screen is your main tool for controlling the tablet, hence choose wisely. If you need a device for basic tasks or need something compact, an 8-inch tablet will fit you best. However, if you specifically want a gadget for watching movies or maybe even drawing, you can buy a large screen tablet ( there are options up to 14 inches available). You also should look at the display resolution. The optimal resolution for 8-inch tablets is 800 x 1280 pixels. Keep in mind that the bigger the screen is, the higher the resolution should be.

Interface

All the tablets on our shortlist work with Android, a mobile operating system designed by Google. Since the company releases an updated version of this OS almost every year, some of the devices update automatically while others may not be compatible with the newest versions of Android. In addition to this, some companies come up with their own OS based on some version of Android. They may not be that different, but they are more flexible and allow you to make more custom settings.

Storage

Pretty much all the gadgets, whether it be a PC, a laptop, a smartphone or a tablet PC, have Random Access Memory (or RAM) and general storage memory. RAM serves for system components and apps. The larger it is, the quicker your tablet will respond to the tasks and commands. Generally, the random access memory varies from 1 to 4 GB. The onboard storage is used for your personal data and media files like photos, videos, music and books. Tablets usually come with 16, 32 or 64 GB, but there are other options available as well. And if your device has a slot for an SD card, you can expand the storage with its help.

Battery life

The battery life of a tablet can be pretty different as well. Some models last for only a few hours while others can serve you for 20 hours on a single charge. That’s why, when selecting a gadget, you should decide what you need it for. If you want a device for home use and you will have access to the charger, short battery life shouldn’t be a big turn off for you. However, if you need one to take with you on a long ride, purchase a model with a bigger capacity. Do note that different tasks and apps affect the battery charge in a different way.

Extras

Lastly, there are a few extra features your tablet may have. The camera is among them. Your tablet may feature rear and/or front cameras. They can have the same or different amount of pixels which usually starts at 2 MP and goes up to 13 and 16 MP. Hence, if you like to take a lot of selfies or you plan to take quality landscape piсtures, choose the one with the better quality. The other popular feature that you can find in modern gadgets is a fingerprint scanner. It gives you easy access to your device in just one touch and securely protects all your personal information. Also, when buying a tablet, you may want to check out such parameters as size, weight and body colour.

Did you know?

That:

  • More than a billion people in the world operate a tablet on a semi-daily basis and over 150 million own one of these devices.
  • Android tablets have had a large spike in popularity over the last few years and were able to finally surpass Apple with a market share of 57 per cent.
  • Average tablet usage adds up to about 15 hours a week which is considerably more than that of a smartphone and a computer.
  • Some may find this statistic surprising but the most popular tablet activity has nothing to do with work, any form of videos or internet in general. It is actually video games with movies and TV shows trailing behind them in popularity. About 84% of tablet users tend to spend at least a few hours a week playing video games on their favourite device.
  • Although your average tablet boasts a convenient structure capable of providing a sufficient level of mobility, up to eighty-two per cent of tablet owners use their device strictly at home, with 28% of them replacing their computer with a tablet altogether.
  • Researchers found that people tend to spend more time with their tablets than they do with paper books. Although this statistic may be somewhat ambiguous since a lot of individuals tend to read books on their tablets.

Bit of History

Although the first touchscreen piece of equipment was introduced fairly recently, with the first-ever model being produced in 1982 by George Samuel Hurst and released in 1993 by IBM (though the technology didn't really receive any kind of popularity or commercial success for another 10 or so years), it does seem like touchscreen devices have been around for ages, doesn't it?

Part of it certainly has something to do with the fact that while the device became popular in the last decade, the first attempts to produce a touchscreen technology date back to 1970s when a couple of engineers from CERN developed a transparent touchscreen based on their work at a television factory in the early 1960s. Another cause for it could very well be the fact that an idea of a touchscreen technology has been prominent in the science fiction genre being mentioned as early as 1951 in Isaac Asimov's series of science fiction books called The Foundation.

The last but not least possible reason for this kind of phenomenon could possibly be the fact that a touchscreen technology provides a tremendous amount of convenience and utility that simply isn't possible to achieve using a regular device paired with an orthodox screen.

Speaking of convenience and utility, did you know that you could use your tablet as a powerful TV remote? With the right model in your hands, you will be capable of entirely replacing your remote with a tablet. Some of these devices are specifically designed with this kind of application in mind. The popular Samsung Galaxy Tab line, for instance, boasts a built-in IR transmitter that can be used as a universal TV remote. Although just like with the good old-fashioned remote, you will have to aim directly at your television set in order for it to work.

But that isn't even the remotely the most peculiar possible application for your tablet. The honour and privilege of bestowing that title would have to go to those bright folks that figured out that you can use your touchscreen device to tune your guitar. Professional and aspiring musicians usually tend to carry electric guitar tuners with them. But if you're an intermediate player that just wants to quickly tune his favourite musical instrument, or you would like to have a backup guitar in case your band is on tour, all you have to do is download Guitar Tuna, a free Android and iOS app that will do that job for you.

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